NORTHWEST

Arrowhead Lake
Water clarity is good. Find bluegill and crappie in deeper habitat as their spawning season ends. Black Crappie – Fair: Look for crappie near structure and contour in 5-10 feet of water. Use a jig tipped with a crawler or a small minnow on a jig drifted over deeper habitat. Bluegill – Fair: Look for bluegill in 5-10 feet of water near woody structure.

Black Hawk Lake
The dredge is working in the east basin of the lake. The floating and submerged portions of pipe is marked with buoys. Dredge barges are marked with buoys; boaters should use caution and stay away from the equipment and pipe. Water levels are about 8 inches below the crest of the spillway. Surface water temperature is in the upper 70s to around 80 degrees. Black Crappie – Fair: Fish are 8- to 11-inches. Most fish have moved to more off shore areas, but can still be picked up along Ice House Point and around the fish house and stone piers in Town Bay. Bluegill – Fair: Find bluegills along shore near Ice House Point and the rock pile by Gunshot Hill.  Fish are 6- to 7-inches.

Browns Lake
Water levels remain low; use caution when launching boats. Find channel catfish along shore near rocky areas and downed trees.

Brushy Creek Lake
Surface water temperature is in the upper 70s. Black Crappie – Fair: Find crappie near submerged woody structure in 5-20 feet of water. Use a small jig tipped with a crawler or small minnow. Bluegill – Fair: Fish are moving off shore to deeper habitat. Use a small jig fished under a bobber in 5-15 feet of water. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Try plastics and traditional bass lures along submerged woody structure and weed lines near shore. Walleye – Fair. Yellow Perch – Slow.

Crawford Creek Impoundment
Largemouth Bass – Good: Catch largemouth bass along shore and weed lines with traditional bass baits.

Storm Lake (incl Little Storm Lake)
Surface water temperature is in the upper 70s. All walleye between 19 and 25-inches must be immediately released unharmed at Storm Lake; no more than one walleye longer than 25-inches can be taken per day. Black Crappie – Fair. Channel Catfish – Good: Anglers are catching fish from shore. Storm Lake has a good population of 4-6 pound catfish.  Try cut bait, liver or crawlers fished on the bottom along shore or minnows or crawlers fished under a bobber. Walleye – Fair: Boat anglers have had luck with crankbaits and crawler harnesses in the edges of the dredge cuts.  A few walleye are still being picked up from shore in the evenings, but most action is in deeper water. Yellow Bass – Fair: Fish are 5- to 11-inches long.  Use a small piece of crawler fished under a bobber. Yellow Perch – Fair: Find perch along shore. Try crawlers or small minnows fished under a bobber near rocky shorelines.

Surface water temperature is in the upper 70s and low 80s. Panfish are moving off shore to deeper habitat in most lakes as their spawning season ends. For more information, contact the Black Hawk District office at 712-657-2638.

Clear Lake
The lake is 2.4 inches above crest. Water temperature is in the upper 70s.Water clarity is about 24 inches. Clear Lake has a protected slot on walleye. All walleye between 17 and 22 inches must be immediately released unharmed. No more than one walleye longer than 22 inches may be taken per day. Channel Catfish – Fair: Try cut bait or crawlers on the bottom. Best bite is after sunset. Walleye – Good: Try fishing a slip bobber with live bait on the rock reefs or troll spinnerbaits near the vegetation edge. Yellow Bass – Slow.

Lower Pine Lake
Bluegill – Good: Use a small piece of crawler under a bobber near shore. Largemouth Bass – Fair.

Rice Lake
Bluegill – Fair: Try a small piece of nightcrawler under a bobber near shore. Largemouth Bass – Good: Cast crankbaits, spinnerbaits and jigs.

Silver Lake (Worth)
Bluegill – Good: Bluegills are on their spawning beds. Use a small piece of crawler under a bobber near shore. Largemouth Bass – Good: Bass are biting on a variety of baits; try fishing near the edge of the vegetation.

Upper Pine Lake
Black Crappie – Good: Drift fish or troll small jigs or minnows. Best bite is early morning. Bluegill – Good: Try a small piece of crawler under a bobber near shore. Largemouth Bass – Fair.

For information on the lakes and rivers in north central Iowa, contact the Clear Lake Fish and Wildlife office at 641-357-3517.

East Okoboji Lake
Lake temperature is in the upper 70s. The water level is 3 inches over crest. Fish are moving shallower, making for great shoreline fishing. Trolling has been working very well. Find crappie and yellow bass in 10-16 feet of water. Black Crappie – Good. Bluegill – Good. Walleye – Fair: Try spinners, crankbaits and long and shallow shad raps in the main basins. Best bite is an hour before and after sunset. Yellow Bass – Good.

Lost Island Lake
Many anglers have been successful; some sorting may be needed depending on which species you are targeting.  Black Crappie – Good. Walleye – Fair: Try trolling crankbaits or with lindy rigs off weed lines. Best bite is an hour before and after sunset. Yellow Perch – Fair.

Minnewashta Lake
Bluegill and crappie fishing has been good; some sorting may be needed. Black Crappie – Good. Bluegill – Good.

Silver Lake (Dickinson)
The late afternoon bite has been good. Many anglers are targeting fish schools during the day. Walleye – Fair: Try spinners, crankbaits and long and shallow shad raps.

Spirit Lake
Water temperature is in the upper 70s. The lake is 7 inches below crest. The walleye season is open. Black Bullhead – Good: Try fishing the northern grade of Spirit Lake. Black Crappie – Fair: Use a tube jig and bobber. Bluegill – Fair.  Walleye – Fair: Try spinners, crankbaits and long and shallow shad raps. Yellow Perch – Fair.

West Okoboji Lake
Water temperature is in the mid-70s. The water level is 3 inches over crest. The panfish bite has been good around docks and hoists; many species of fish are starting to move deeper as the spawning season eds. The walleye season is open. Black Crappie – Fair. Bluegill – Fair. Largemouth Bass – Fair. Smallmouth Bass – Fair: Try fishing off points with surface baits or jerk baits. Walleye – Fair: Try fishing off points by trolling crankbaits or with lindy rigs. Best bite is an hour before and after sunset.

Most area lake temperatures have warmed into the 70s-80s over the last week with the warm weather. This week’s forecast calls for temperatures in the 80s which should continue to raise water temperatures. Water clarity is fairly good on most area lakes. Bass and panfishing is great on most lakes closer to shore and along weed lines. Many fish species will start to move to deeper water as their spawning season ends. For current conditions, call the Spirit Lake District Office at 712-336-1840.

NORTHEAST

Cedar River (above Nashua)
Water levels are back down and stabilizing. Clarity is improving. Fish eddies and current breaks. Visit the USGS Water Dashboard for current water levels. Channel Catfish – Excellent: Try a hook loaded with a crawler, chub, chicken livers or stink bait. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Use a spinnerbait or crankbait along lake edges at dawn and dusk. Northern Pike – Fair: Find pike in shallow vegetated areas out of current. Smallmouth Bass – Fair: Find smallies below the dams; use a hook tipped with a ringworm, twister tail or nightcrawler.  Walleye – Fair: Try worms or minnows under a slip bobber with enough weight to get your bait near the bottom.

Decorah District Streams
The 2022 Trout Stream Stocking calendar is available on our Trout Fishing webpage. Some streams are off-color. Flows are up; use caution when crossing or fishing in faster current. Brook Trout – Good: Numerous insect hatches on sunny afternoons. Use midge, caddis, mayfly or scud patterns for hungry brookies. Brown Trout – Excellent: Its a great time to fish for a brown trout when water is off-color. Use spinnerbaits or crankbaits near or around structure. Midge, gnat and caddisfly hatches remain strong. Rainbow Trout – Excellent: Freshly stocked rainbow trout are waiting for anglers. Use small spinnerbaits, hair jigs or hooks tipped with a worm or minnow floating past structure or around large rocks.

Lake Hendricks
Water clarity is good; aquatic vegetation is becoming a nuisance, making fishing from shore difficult.   Black Crappie – Slow: Find crappie in 6 to 8 feet of water. Bluegill – Fair: Try a small piece of worm to catch one of these beauties. Channel Catfish – Excellent: Best time to catch a nice-size cat is at night using stink bait. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Find fish near shore with crankbaits or jig tipped with a brightly colored plastic tail.

Lake Meyer
Anglers are finding hit-and-miss action as the water warms. The lake is very weedy; electric motors may have trouble getting through the vegetation. Black Crappie – Fair: Find crappie in 6 to 8 feet of water around vertical structure. Bluegill – Fair: Find a cove or weed edge. Use an ice fishing jig tipped with a small piece of worm. Channel Catfish – Good: Try a chunk of worm or squished minnow fished off the bottom near stumps or other woody debris. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Try crankbaits or a jig with plastic tail on weedless hooks along vegetation edges.

North Bear Creek
Bridge replacement work is starting on the Sacquitne Bridge on 360th St. Stream access and parking lot remain open; be courteous to workers. Rainbow Trout – Excellent: Stocked weekly from April through October.

Turkey River (above Clermont)
Water levels are stabilizing with much improved water clarity. Smallmouth Bass – Good: Find smallies near undercut banks or rock ledges. Use a jig with a twister tail or crankbait. Walleye – Good: Find walleye in deeper pockets just out of flow.

Turkey River (below Clermont)
Water levels are stabilizing with swift current.  Use care if paddling. Visit the USGS Water Database for more information on water levels. Smallmouth Bass – Fair: Try fishing the eddies and drop-offs. Walleye – Good: Find walleye in current breaks or eddies. Use crankbaits or spinnerbaits. White Sucker – Good: Try a piece of worm on a hook fished on the stream bottom.

Upper Iowa River (below Decorah)
Water levels are stabilizing, but remain dirty. Use caution when paddling; current is swift. Smallmouth Bass – Good: Find deeper holes and eddies. Try fishing near the bottom. Walleye – Good: Anglers are catching 10-inch walleye with a jig tipped with a natural colored twister tail in the edges of eddies. White Sucker – Good: Sucker fishing is heating up with warmer temperatures. Find fish off the bottom using a jig tipped with a worm.

Volga Lake
Water clarity is good. The main park road is open to campground and lake; expect delays due to shoulder work continuing for the next few weeks. See park bulletin for more information. Black Crappie – Good: Use small jigs tipped with plastic tails or minnows off the jetties. Bluegill – Fair:  Anglers are finding gills off the jetties. Try a small piece of worm under a bobber. Channel Catfish – Good: Trophy-sized catfish are abundant in this lake. Use a dead chub or squished minnow fished off the bottom near woody debris. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Use crankbaits in drop-offs and around brush piles and other attracting structures.

Temperatures are in the 80s to upper 50s; chance of thunderstorms Friday afternoon into Saturday. Area river and stream water levels are slowly stabilizing. Some waterbodies remain dirty. Use caution when paddling when flows are up. For current fishing information, please call the Chuck Gipp Decorah Fish Hatchery at 563-382-8324.

Casey Lake (aka Hickory Hills Lake)
Anglers are catching bluegill, crappie and channel catfish. Black Crappie – Good: Try a crappie minnow under a slip bobber along the edge of the weed beds off of the jetties. Bluegill – Good: Use a piece of crawler under a slip bobber along the edge of the weed beds off of the jetties. Channel Catfish – Good: Try fishing off of the old beach area and to the west using stink baits, livers, leopard frogs or dead cut baits fished on the bottom.

Cedar River (Nashua to La Porte City)
Anglers are catching channel catfish, smallmouth bass and occasional walleye. Channel Catfish – Good: Try stink baits, chicken livers or dead cut baits fished above fallen tree snags. Smallmouth Bass – Good: Cast spinnerbaits or crankbaits or a jig tipped with a piece of crawler. Walleye – Fair: A jig fished off of the bottom with half of a nightcrawler is deadly for walleye this time of year.

George Wyth Lake
Anglers are catching northern pike and crappie. Black Crappie – Fair: Try a crappie minnow under a slip bobber near structure. Northern Pike – Fair: Troll crankbaits around the lake or cast spinnerbaits along the edges of willows on the west end of the lake.

Maquoketa River (above Monticello)
The Maquoketa River is in excellent condition. Anglers are catching smallmouth bass and channel catfish. Channel Catfish – Good: Use a piece of crawler on a jig or fished off of the bottom. Smallmouth Bass – Fair: Cast spinnerbaits, crankbaits or jigs near rocky shoreline areas.

Shell Rock River (Greene to Shell Rock)
No reports for the Shell Rock river at this time.

Wapsipinicon River (Tripoli to Troy Mills)
Water levels on the Wapsipinicon River continue to drop. Smallmouth bass bite should pick up as the river continues to clear. Smallmouth Bass – Good: Cast crankbaits, spinnerbaits or a jig tipped with a piece of crawler.

Interior river levels are falling or remain stable in most areas. Trout streams are in excellent condition across NE Iowa. Area Black Hawk county lakes are producing catches of panfish. Contact your local area bait shops for the most recent hot spots. For more information, contact the Manchester Hatchery at 563-927-3276.

MISSISSIPPI RIVER

Mississippi River Pool 9
Water level is 8.9 feet at Lansing and is expected to fall slightly late in the week. Water temperature is 79 degrees. New Albin Army road ramp is open.  Black Crappie – Fair: Anglers are catching crappies in the flooded timber on crappie rigs with minnows. Bluegill – Excellent: Use light tackle tipped with piece of worm in areas away from current along the weed edges in backwaters. Channel Catfish – Excellent: Try cut bait or stink bait fished in deeper holes along current breaks of side channels. Flathead Catfish – Good: Reports of lots of small flathead biting on nightcrawlers. Try a shiner or small bluegill for bait to catch bigger catfish. Freshwater Drum – Excellent: Freshwater drum bite is coming on. Use a weighted crawler rig in the current anywhere from shore. Largemouth Bass – Good: Cast jigs or jerk baits in woody cover in the shallows of backwaters. Northern Pike – Excellent: Cast crankbaits off vegetation lines or near the mouth of tributary streams. Sauger – Slow: Try a crawler drifted on the bottom in tailwater shorelines. Smallmouth Bass – Excellent: Smallmouth are getting more active along main channel rock structure. Cast inline spinners or crankbaits along the faster current. Walleye – Good: Troll crankbaits  off the wing-dams and side channels Yellow Perch – Good: Use a jig tipped with a crawler.

Mississippi River Pool 10
Water level is 617.4 feet at Lynxville and is expected to continue to fall. Water temperature is 80 degrees. Sny Magill and Nobles Island ramps are open. Black Crappie – Fair: Anglers are catching crappies in the flooded timber on crappie rigs with minnows. Bluegill – Excellent: Use light tackle tipped with piece of worm in areas away from current along the weed edges in backwaters. Channel Catfish – Good: Try cut bait or stink bait fished in deeper holes along current breaks of side channels. Flathead Catfish – Good: The flathead bite is picking up with the warmer temperatures. Try a shiner or small bluegill for bait. Freshwater Drum – Excellent: Freshwater drum bite is coming on. Use a weighted crawler rig in the current anywhere from shore. Largemouth Bass – Good: Cast jigs or jerk baits in woody cover in the shallows of backwaters. Northern Pike –  Excellent: Cast crankbaits off vegetation lines or near the mouth of tributary streams. Sauger – Slow: Use a crawler drifted on the bottom in tailwater shorelines. Smallmouth Bass – Excellent: Smallmouth are getting more active along main channel rock structure. Cast inline spinners or crankbaits along the faster current.  Walleye – Good: Troll crankbaits off the wing-dams and side channels. Yellow Perch – Good: Use a jig tipped with a crawler.

Mississippi River Pool 11
Water level is 8.7 feet and is expected to fall to near 7 feet. Water clarity is improving. Water temperature is 73 degrees at the Guttenberg dam. Black Crappie – Fair: Anglers are catching crappies in the flooded timber on crappie rigs with minnows. Bluegill – Good: Use light tackle tipped with piece of worm in areas away from current along the weed edges in backwaters. Channel Catfish – Good: Try cut bait or stink bait fished in deeper holes along current breaks of side channels.  Flathead Catfish – Good: The flathead bite is picking up with the warmer temperatures. Try a shiner or small bluegill for bait. Freshwater Drum – Excellent: Freshwater drum bite is coming on. Use a weighted crawler rig in the current anywhere from shore. Largemouth Bass – Good: Cast jigs or crankbaits in woody cover in the shallows of backwaters. Northern Pike – Excellent: Cast crankbaits off vegetation lines or near the mouth of tributary streams. Sauger – Slow: Use a crawler drifted on the bottom in tailwater shorelines. Smallmouth Bass – Excellent: Smallmouth are getting more active along main channel rock structure. Cast inline spinners or crankbaits along the faster current.  Walleye –  Good: Troll crankbaits off the wing-dams and side channels. Yellow Perch – Good: Use a jig tipped with a crawler.

Upper Mississippi River levels are falling this week. Water temperature is in the upper 70s to 80 degrees. Walleye slot length limits now apply on the entire Iowa border of the Mississippi River. All walleyes less than 15 inches long and between 20-27 inches must be immediately released. One walleye over 27 inches may be kept. Walleye/sauger combined daily limit 6/possession 12.

Mississippi River Pool 12
Water levels are 8.6 feet at the Lock and Dam and 10.9 feet at the RR bridge. Water clarity is good. Water levels are receding. Water temperature is around 80 degrees. Lots of mixed bags of many species reported. Bluegill – Good: Check various harbors in Dubuque for bluegills; use a worm and bobber in 3 feet or less of water. Bobber and worm rigs work best. Channel Catfish – Excellent: Channel cats have moved into their spawning areas which is often along rock lines. Try to float a bobber or leaches with a simple nightcrawler rig along rocky areas. Those bright blue channel cats you catch are males channel catfish in spawning colors, not blue catfish. Flathead Catfish – Good: Most anglers are using banklines with live bullheads for bait. Freshwater Drum – Excellent: Drum are being taken in areas of moderate current with an egg sinker and worm rig. Keep fish on ice if you plan to eat them; they can be very good table fare. Largemouth Bass – Good: Bass of all sizes are being reported mostly from backwater areas on spinnerbaits and swimbaits. Northern Pike – Good: Some nice pike are being reported on spinnerbaits. Find fish along the newly established vegetation lines. Smallmouth Bass – Good: Use a spinnerbait or crankbait along rock lines with moderate current. Walleye – Fair: Good: The walleye bite has picked up with many anglers throwing crankbaits on wing-dams. White Bass – Excellent: Lots of small white bass are being caught on white spinners or jigs. Yellow Perch – Good: Minnow heads and worms are the preferred bait. Keep the worm short and straight on your hooks.

Mississippi River Pool 13
The water level at the Bellevue Lock is receding at near 9.8 feet. The water temperature is around 80 degrees. Lots of mixed bags of many species reported. Bluegill – Good: Try a simple bobber and worm in the Sabula area backwaters. Channel Catfish – Excellent: Channel cats have moved into their spawning areas which is often along rock lines. Try to float a bobber with a simple nightcrawler rig along rocky areas. Those bright blue channel cats you catch are males channel catfish in spawning colors, not blue catfish. Freshwater Drum – Excellent: Drum are being taken in areas of moderate current with a egg sinker and worm rig. Keep your fish on ice if plan to eat them; they can be very good table fare. Largemouth Bass – Excellent: Nice bass are being caught in the Spring Lake area; other places in the pool are producing bass of all sizes.  Most anglers are using spinnerbaits or swimbaits. Northern Pike – Good: Use gaudy white spinners. Rainbow Trout – No Report: The Kids Trout Pond is unfishable due to excessive vegetation. Smallmouth Bass – Good: Try spinnerbaits or crankbaits along rock lines. Some nice 3 pound smallmouths have been reported this spring; most are small, but fun on light action poles.  Walleye – Fair: Anglers are targeting larger sloughs with crankbaits.  White Bass – Fair: Small white bass have been reported in the tailwater area; use small white jigs or spinners. Yellow Perch – Good: The bite has been good at times; most anglers are using worms for bait.

Mississippi River Pool 14
The water level at the Fulton Lock and Dam is receding at 9.2 feet, 12.3 feet at Camanche, and 6.9 feet at Le Claire. Water temperature is around 81 degrees in the main channel. Water clarity is good. Bluegill – Good: Bluegills are on the bite throughout Pool 14; use a simple bobber and worm rig in 3 feet of water or less. Channel Catfish – Excellent: Channel cats have moved into their spawning areas which is often along rock lines. Try to float a bobber with a simple nightcrawler rig along rocky areas. Those bright blue channel cats you catch are males channel catfish in spawning colors, not blue catfish.  Freshwater Drum – Excellent: Lots of drum are taken in areas of moderate current with an egg sinker and worm rig. Keep your fish on ice if you plan to eat them; they can be very good table fare. Largemouth Bass – Excellent: Bass of all sizes are being reported out of most of the common highly fished backwater lakes in Pool 14 like Beaver Island Rock Creek and Sunfish Lake. Northern Pike – Fair: Some pike have been seen in mixed species bags, mostly by anglers bass fishing. Smallmouth Bass – Fair: Look for smallmouth bass along rock lines with stronger currents; try fishing in 1 to 2 feet of water next to the rock. Walleye – Good: Some nice walleyes continue to be reported from sloughs and near shore wing-dams. Most anglers are using crankbaits. White Bass – No Report: Small white bass are common in upstream reports, but no report on Pool 14. Some are being caught in the tailwaters on small white spinners.  White Crappie – Fair: Some crappie are being taken in marina areas around docks. A few reported around the fallen trees at Rock Creek. Yellow Perch – Fair: Lots of small perch are in the system; the future for yellow perch fishing looks bright in Pool 14. Yellow perch are often caught by anglers fishing for bluegills and crappies.

Mississippi River Pool 15
The water level is slowly receding at 9.4 feet at Rock Island. The water temperature is near 81 degrees. Water clarity is good. Channel Catfish – Excellent: Channel cats have moved into their spawning areas which is often along rock lines. Try to float a bobber with a simple nightcrawler rig along rocky areas. Those bright blue channel cats you catch are males channel catfish in spawning colors, not blue catfish. Freshwater Drum – Excellent: Drum are being taken in areas of moderate current using an egg sinker and worm rig.  Keep your fish on ice if you plan to eat them; they can be very good table fare. Smallmouth Bass – No Report: Pool 15 can be surprising good smallmouth fishing with lots of rock lines available; this a preferred habitat for smallmouth bass. Use small spinners or crankbaits near these rock habitats.

The Mississippi River is slightly high, but the water has been clear; river levels are receding throughout the district. Water temperatures are near 80 degrees throughout the district. If you have angling questions, please call the Bellevue Fisheries Management Station at 563-880-8781.

Mississippi River Pool 16
Tailwater stage is 9.36 feet at Lock and Dam 15 in the Quad Cities and is forecast to fall over the weekend. Flood stage is 15 feet. Bluegill – Fair: Look for bluegills in the backwaters. Use pieces of worm under a bobber around brush piles in Sunset Marina and the Andalusia Islands. Channel Catfish – Fair: Try stink baits or nightcrawlers around brush piles and snags along the main channel and side channels. Walleye – Fair: Look for walleye on the wing-dams. Cast or troll crankbaits or three-way rigs with nightcrawlers. Some walleyes are also being caught in Sylvan slough on jigs and plastics. White Bass – Fair: Cast jigs and twister tails in Sunset Marina. White Crappie – No Report: Look for crappies in the backwaters. Try jigs and minnows or minnows under a bobber around brush piles.

Mississippi River Pool 17
Tailwater stage is 8.25 feet at Lock and Dam 16 in Muscatine and is falling. Flood stage is 15 feet. The ramp at Big Timber is open. Bluegill – No Report: Look for bluegills in the backwaters. Try pieces of worm under a bobber around brush piles at Big Timber and Cleveland Slough. Channel Catfish – No Report: Try stink bait or nightcrawlers around brush piles and snags along the main channel and side channels. Some channel catfish can also be caught fishing from shore along the Muscatine River front along the rocks floating bobbers with worms or leeches. Walleye – No Report: Walleye fishing has been tough with the higher water conditions. Look for walleyes on the wing dams. Cast or troll crankbaits or three-way rigs with crawlers. White Crappie – No Report: Look for crappies in the backwaters around brush piles. Use jigs and minnows or minnows under a bobber in Big Timber and Cleveland Slough.

Mississippi River Pool 18
Tailwater stage is 10.06 feet at Lock and Dam 17 at New Boston and is falling. Flood stage is 15 feet. The Toolsboro ramp is open. Bluegill – No Report: Look for bluegills in the backwaters around brush piles. Try pieces of worm under a bobber. Channel Catfish – No Report: Look for channel catfish around brush piles and snags along the main channel and side channels. Use stink bait and crawlers. Walleye – No Report: Walleye fishing has been tough with the higher water conditions. Look for walleyes on the wing-dams. Cast or troll crankbaits or three-way rigs with crawlers. White Crappie – No Report: Look for crappies in the backwaters. Try jigs and minnows or minnows under a bobber around brush piles.

Mississippi River Pool 19
Tailwater stage is 6.71 feet at Lock and Dam 18 and is falling. Flood stage is 15 feet. Bluegill – No Report: Use pieces of worm under a bobber in the backwaters around brush piles. Channel Catfish – No Report: Try stink bait or nightcrawlers around snags and brush piles along the main channel and side channels. White Crappie – No Report: Use jigs and minnows or minnows under a bobber in the backwaters around brush piles.

River stage has been falling this past week. Water clarity is fair. Main channel water temperature is around 80 degrees. If you have questions on fishing Pools 16-19, contact the Fairport Fish Hatchery at 563-263-5062.

SOUTHEAST

Big Hollow Lake
Water temperature is in the mid- to upper 80s. Black Crappie – Slow: Crappie fishing is sporadic. Crappies remain in 14-16 feet of water. Move around to find the schools that are feeding. Anglers are catching them using vertical jigging. Bluegill – Fair: With the increase in water temperatures, bluegills have set up in deeper water for the summer; 6-8 feet of water is their zone during the heat of the summer. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Bass fishing has slowed as the water temperature climbed into the mid- to upper 80s.  Best bite is early morning before it get hot. Try fishing near the deep water drop-offs.

Lake Belva Deer
Water temperature is in the mid-80s. Black Crappie – Fair: Slow troll along the tree line in front of the beach or along the face of the dam. Bluegill – Slow: Find bluegills in 8-12 feet of water trying to stay cool. Try vertical jigging along the tree line or slip bobber and worms. Largemouth Bass – Fair: With most of the weed beds gone and hot weather, look for bass to have moved to deeper water.  The sides of the mounds at the upper end of the lake is a good place to find them in early summer.

Lake Darling
Water temperature is 86 degrees. Water clarity is around 6 feet. Water continues to have a tan cast to it. Black Crappie – Fair: The number of anglers has dropped off considerably.  Expect crappies to still be in 10-12 feet of water. Bluegill – Good: Anglers are catching good numbers of nice bluegills early in the morning or later in the evening. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Most bigger fish have moved into deeper water and are hanging out at 6 to 8 feet deep.

Lost Grove Lake
Water temperature is in the mid-80s. Fishing has slowed like it was late summer already. Black Crappie – Fair: Slow troll along the north side in deeper water just over top of the tree lines completely underwater. Bluegill – Slow: Most bluegills have moved out to their deeper water summer homes. Try the brush and small trees just out from the weed lines in 6-7 feet of water. Largemouth Bass – Fair: With the weed beds thinning out, bass are  looking for new homes amongst the flooded brush.

Skunk River (Rose Hill to Coppock)
The water level in the Skunk River came up a little this week and is extremely muddy.  Channel Catfish – Fair: The number of boats out on the river is down this week, more due to the heat than the water level.

For more information on the above lakes call the Lake Darling Fisheries Office at 319- 694-2430.

Cedar River (Cedar Rapids to Moscow)
Channel Catfish – Fair: Use crawlers, cut bait or live chubs/bluegills. Shovelnose Sturgeon – Fair: Try a crawler on the bottom .

Central Park Lake
Bluegill – Good. Channel Catfish – Good. Largemouth Bass – Good. Redear Sunfish – Fair.

Coralville Reservoir
Channel Catfish – Good: Try drifting or trolling cut bait in the channel.

Diamond Lake
Black Crappie – Good: Find most crappie around deeper brush piles and suspended in open water. Bluegill – Fair. Channel Catfish – Good: Most fish are 12- to 16-inches.

Hannen Lake
Black Crappie – Slow.  Bluegill – Fair: Look for shallow fish on beds. Catch fish up to 10-inches. Largemouth Bass – Good: Most fish are 12- to 14-inches.

Iowa Lake (Iowa Co.)
A lot of vegetation is around the entire perimeter of the lake. Black Crappie – Fair: Try fishing outside the weed edge or look for suspended fish out deeper. Bluegill – Good: Try fishing the inside weed lines or pockets of the weeds. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Try fishing over the weeds or along the inside/outside edges.

Iowa River (Marshalltown to Coralville Lake)
Channel Catfish – Good: Try crawlers, cut bait or live chubs/bluegills. Flathead Catfish – Good: Use chubs, bluegills or crawlers.

Lake Macbride
The 10 horsepower maximum is in effect.  Black Crappie – Slow: Look for fish suspended over brush/stumps or in open water. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Try fishing the weedlines or on rocky banks. Walleye – Slow: Troll crankbaits or crawler harnesses on rock reefs or large flats in 7-14 feet of water.

For more information, contact the Lake Macbride Fisheries Station at 319-624-3615.

Hawthorn Lake
Bluegill – Fair: Try small jigs along the shoreline. Channel Catfish – Fair: Look for catfish around the jetties and along the dam or other areas with large rocks. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Use plastics around submerged structure and the shoreline.

Lake Miami
Bluegill – Fair: Use small jigs along the shoreline. Try different colors until you find the right combo. Channel Catfish – Fair: Use dead chubs around the jetties and shoreline. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Try spinnerbaits and crankbaits around the jetties and shorelines.

Lake Sugema
Black Crappie – Fair: Use small jigs and minnows around the flooded trees. Bluegill – Fair: Try small jigs around shorelines and vegetated areas. Largemouth Bass – Good: Use plastics or spinnerbaits around structure.

Lake Wapello
Black Crappie – Fair: Anglers are catching some crappies with jigs. Look for structure to hold fish. Bluegill – Fair: Use small jigs along the shoreline as these fish start to spawn. Channel Catfish – Fair: Try nightcrawlers around the fishing jetties. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Use rubber worms or other plastics fished around the cedar tree piles.

Rathbun Reservoir
The current lake level is 905.25 msl; recreation pool is 904 msl. Lake Rathbun has zebra mussels so make sure to properly drain, clean and dry equipment before transporting to another waterbody. Black Crappie – Fair: Crappies have moved into deeper water and have suspended. Try small crankbaits fished in a little deeper water.  Channel Catfish – Good: Try dead chubs or nightcrawlers in areas with large rocks. Walleye – Fair: Anglers are catching walleyes with jig and minnow combos and trolling nightcrawler rigs. Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) – Fair: Try vertically jigging around rock piles or trolling crankbaits.

Red Haw Lake
Red Haw State Park partially reopened on May 20th. Visitors can access the beach and north boat ramp area, but are asked to avoid the campground. Bluegill – Fair: Try small jigs along the shoreline. Channel Catfish – Fair: Try nightcrawlers around the dam and the rock jetties. Largemouth Bass – Fair: Use spinnerbaits along the shoreline and near the rock jetties.

Contact the Rathbun Fish Hatchery at 641-647-2406 with questions about fishing in south central Iowa.

SOUTHWEST

Big Creek Lake
Black Crappie – Fair: Crappies have moved off shore. Catch crappies suspended out from the shorelines with rock and treefalls with minnows under a float or troll panfish tube jigs, twister tails and swimbaits. Bluegill – Good: Bluegill have moved to depths less than 6 feet for spawning. Use small pieces of crawler fished at these depths. Walleye – Fair: Catch walleye in the evenings from shore just before and after sunset; cast jigs with twister tails, swimbaits or live bait. Boat anglers can catch walleye jigging or trolling live bait rigs over humps, near points, and near creek channel drop-offs along flats.  A good starting area is out from the marina around to the beach. Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) – Good: Wipers are biting on crankbaits being trolled and jigs tipped with live bait.

Boone District Farm Ponds
Boone District Farm Ponds refers to Community Fishing Ponds found on Iowa DNR’s Fish Local site. Bluegill – Good: Catch bluegill shallow with nightcrawlers or very small panfish jigs in many of the public ponds throughout the Des Moines metro.

Des Moines River (Saylorville to Red Rock)
Channel Catfish – Good: Catfishing on the river has been good for both channels and flatheads.  Anglers are catching fish on live bait and cut bait. White Bass – Good: Cast twister tails, swimbaits, spoons and in-line spinners below the dams in Des Moines. Wiper (Hybrid Striped Bass) – Good: Try twister tails, swimbaits or live minnows on jigs below the dams in Des Moines and below Red Rock.

Don Williams Lake
Black Crappie – Fair: Cast panfish jigs or live minnows under a float near wood next to shore.  Crappies are also suspended just off shore; slowly troll twister tail jigs 3 to 6 feet of water. Bluegill – Fair: Bluegill have moved in shallow to spawn.  Use small jigs tipped with live bait under a bobber.

For information on Central Iowa lakes and rivers contact Ben Dodd at 641-891-3795 or Andy Otting at 515-204-5885.

Greenfield Lake
Black Crappie – Slow: Greenfield has a good year class of 8- to 10-inch black crappie. Bluegill – Fair: Slow troll or drift small jigs to find 7-inch bluegill. Largemouth Bass – Good: Greenfield has a good largemouth bass population with a good percentage of fish more than 15-inches.

Lake Anita
Water clarity is good.  Black Crappie – Fair: Look for crappies on the roadbeds and around deep tree piles. Bluegill – Fair: Try slow trolling or drifting. Largemouth Bass – Good: Lake Anita has a good bass population.

Nodaway Lake
Water clarity is 25 inches. Black Crappie – Fair: Concentrate on deep tree piles to find crappies Bluegill – Fair: Try fishing around structure to catch 8-inch bluegill. Channel Catfish – Good: The lake has good numbers of 22-inch channel catfish. Try fishing rocky shorelines to find spawning channel catfish. Largemouth Bass – Good: Anglers report very good bass fishing this week.

Orient Lake
Water temperature is above 75 degrees. Black Crappie – Fair: Cast around the tree piles to find crappies. Bluegill – Fair: Try worms under a bobber in 4 feet of water. Channel Catfish – Fair: Anglers report catching catfish along the dam with shrimp.

Prairie Rose Lake
Water clarity is good. Black Crappie – Fair: Look for 9.5 inch crappie around deep tree piles. Bluegill – Fair: Look for post-spawn bluegills slow trolling or casting around structure. Channel Catfish – Good: Catch channel catfish around the jetties. Largemouth Bass – Good: There is a high percentage of 14- to 16-inch bass in Prairie Rose.

Viking Lake
All boat ramps are usable. Black Crappie – Fair: Viking will be a good destination for crappie fishing in 2022. Many crappies are being caught casting around the flooded terrestrial vegetation. Bluegill – Fair: Bluegills have gained size and are in good body condition due to the drawdown. Channel Catfish – Good: Viking has a good channel catfish population. Look for channel catfish close to rocky shorelines. Largemouth Bass – Good: Viking Lake has a very good largemouth bass population and will provide quality bass fishing in 2022.

For information on lakes in the Southwest District call the Cold Springs office at 712-769-2587.

Green Valley Lake
Bluegill – Fair: Use nightcrawlers under a bobber fished near brush piles to catch bluegill up to 8.5 inches. Largemouth Bass – Slow: Catch largemouth bass up to 20-inches with finesse plastics or jigs fished near cedar tree brush piles.

Lake Icaria
Docks are in at all boat ramps. Channel Catfish – Good: Try cut bait along rocky shoreline areas to catch channel catfish of all sizes.

Little River Watershed Lake
The dock is in at main ramp. Black Crappie – Slow: Use a jig tipped with live bait fished near cedar tree brush piles to catch crappie up to 11-inches. Bluegill – Fair: Catch bluegill up to 8.5 inches with worms under a bobber fished near cedar tree brush piles.

Three Mile Lake
Courtesy docks are in at the main ramp. Black Crappie – Slow: Catch crappie up to 11-inches with jigs tipped with live bait fished near cedar tree brush piles. Bluegill – Fair:  Catch bluegill up to 9-inches with nightcrawlers under a bobber fished near cedar tree brush piles. Walleye – Slow: Use jigs along the roadbed to catch walleye of all sizes.

Twelve Mile Creek Lake
The dock is in at the main ramp. Bluegill – Fair: Try nightcrawlers fished under a bobber near brush piles to catch bluegill up to 8.5-inches.

Water temperature is in the mid to upper 70s at most Mount Ayr district lakes. For more information, call the Mount Ayr Fisheries office at 641-464-3108.